Working in silos, change will not occur. WBC convenes with our Partners, Champions, and Sponsors to move faster together toward our action initiative goals.
Join us for Our Annual Action for Impact Summit!
WBC’s Annual Action for Impact Summit unites thousands of attendees on a fully interactive platform, enabling participants to network, connect, and exchange ideas, innovations, and impact in real time.
The Women’s Capital Summit is the premier opportunity for founders and funders to network and gain actionable insights from each other while exploring the funding paths needed to grow business. This annual event is where women are supported and create a future fueled with equal opportunity.
The 2024 Women’s Capital Summit was held in New York, NY on September 4-5. The two-day event allowed women entrepreneurs to meet investors who believe in their vision, hear stories from trailblazing women, and receive the tools to help advance their business.
"Once you sit down and hear everyone's story, you realize you're in the right place. You realize that not only do you belong here, but you're going to meet someone who’s going to take you to the next level."
Check out our video recap from the 2023 Women’s Capital Summit
1:30pm: Arrival, Registration, and Networking
2:30pm: Opening Remarks
Gwen K. Young CEO, Women Business Collaborative
2:45pm: Concurrent Panel Sessions
Strategic Decision-Making for Women Entrepreneurs: Navigating Ownership, Capital Terms, and Legal Complexities
This breakout panel session is your chance to gain invaluable insights into making informed decisions that align with your business goals. We’ll dive into critical considerations for women-owned businesses, including the implications of different business structures (LLC, partnership) on scaling, capital raising, and ownership. We’ll also explore the importance of WBENC certification and how it can impact your business’s growth and control. Plus, you’ll walk away with essential legal insights on protecting your interests during negotiations and shaping the future of your business from now through to exit. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to optimize your business strategies and achieve your goals.
Eda Henries, Founder and Managing Principal, Henries & Co.
Kirsty McGuire, Partner, H Partners
Merri Moken, Partner, Brown Rudnick
LaKesha White, Senior Vice President, Certification, WBENC
Enter the World of Angel Investing
There are over 400,000 angel investors in the US. This session will provide an inside look at angel investors, why they do this work, what they consider in making investments, and what entrepreneurs need to consider when raising funding from angels. This session will be relevant for both entrepreneurs and investors who may be considering becoming angel investors. Hosted by Loretta McCarthy, Co-CEO of Golden Seeds, an angel network that has been investing in women-led companies for 20 years.
Loretta McCarthy, Co-CEO and Managing Partner, Golden Seeds, LLC
Unlocking Grant Funding: Strategies to Fuel Business Growth
In this breakout session, participants will explore how to leverage grant opportunities to accelerate their business ventures. The session will cover practical strategies for identifying, applying for, and securing grants tailored to women entrepreneurs. Attendees will gain insights from successful grant recipients and experts in the field, learning how to craft compelling proposals and maximize funding to drive innovation and scale their businesses. Whether you’re new to grant applications or looking to refine your approach, this session will provide the tools and knowledge needed to unlock critical funding sources.
Marissa Beatty, Founder & CEO, Turnover Labs
Shreya Dave, Co-founder and CEO, Via Separations
Angela Dingle, CEO, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP)
Kalee Whitehouse, Co-founder and Advisor, Noon Energy
Iris Wu, Investment Associate, Aramco Ventures
4:15pm: Opening Fireside Chat with Donna Levin
Join us for our opening fireside chat with Donna Levin, the CEO of the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College and Co-Founder of Care.com
Carolyn D’Angelo, Senior Managing Director, Brand Operations, Gordon Brothers; President, Laura Ashley
Donna Levin, CEO, Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership; Co-Founder, Care.com
5:00pm: Opening Reception and Women’s Business Marketplace Featuring DAMA Wines and Misha’s Cupcakes
7:00pm: Reception Concludes
8:00am: Arrival, Breakfast and Networking
9:00am: Welcome
Gwen K. Young, CEO, Women Business Collaborative
9:05am: Fireside Chat
Bailey G. DeVries, Associate Administrator, Office of Investment & Innovation, United States Small Business Administration
Gwen K. Young, CEO, Women Business Collaborative
9:40am: Navigating the Landscape of Capital
The options for accessing capital make up a robust ecosystem that can often be challenging to navigate. This process requires a clear understanding of the types of capital that are right for your business as well as an awareness of the goals of investors and lenders. In addition, clarity of business strategy, exit planning, industry dynamics, and business goals are critical to choosing the right capital provider. In this session, our panel of experts will discuss the landscape of capital and how entrepreneurs can scale their businesses with the investment options that are best aligned with their company’s strategy and growth plan.
Julie Hyman, Anchor, Yahoo Finance (Moderator)
Elisabeth Chasia, Investments Director, Momentus Capital
Joy Fairbanks, Portola Valley Partners
Nicole Martello, Relationship Manager, Bridge
Ashley McLeod, Director, National Lending Programs, Momentus Capital
Vijay Mehta, Arkview Capital
10:30am: Coffee Break
11:00am: Setting the Table: Understanding Early-Stage Capital
As business owners work to scale their companies, creating the right capital structure from the beginning is important to long term growth. This allows entrepreneurs to be ready to access and receive capital and create the traction necessary to accelerate their growth. In this session, speakers will set the stage for exploring early-stage capital and how to prepare your organization for investment in the earliest stages of growth.
Chisom A’Marie, Vice President/Partner New Voices Fund
Kelly O’Connell, Managing Partner, 360 Venture Collective
11:45am: Presenting Sponsor Remarks, Ruth Jacks, Executive Vice President | Head of Diverse Segments Commercial Banking
Followed by Networking Lunch
Join us for a Networking Lunch where we will offer facilitated conversations to deep dive into the thematic topics explored over the two days. Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, exchange insights, and build meaningful relationships while revisiting key discussions and actionable takeaways from the Summit.
1:15pm: The Building Blocks of Capital: Growing with Purpose
Scaling a business is a process and not a lump sum event. This work requires a strong commitment to the company’s values, strategy, and objectives as well as purposeful commitment from both business owners and investors of capital. Entrepreneurs must be constantly evaluating whether their desired growth is in alignment with the goals they’ve set for their organization and the value they are creating for their customers. Join our panel of experts to discuss how to grow your business intentionally as well as how entrepreneurs and investors can build mutually beneficial relationships to achieve both business owner and investor goals.
La Keisha Landrum Pierre, General Partner, Co-Founder, Emmeline Ventures (Moderator)
Richard Gan, Division Manager and Managing Director, Wells Fargo
Lexi Ginsburg, Senior Analyst, Altura Capital
2:00pm: Mergers & Acquisitions as a Growth Strategy
Unlocking the potential for transformational growth, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is a powerful strategy for scaling women-owned businesses. This dynamic panel will delve into the intricacies of M&A, offering insights into how this strategy can serve as a catalyst for expansion, market penetration, and increased competitiveness.
Join us for this insightful session to discover how mergers and acquisitions can serve as a strategic tool for growth and transformation. Whether you are looking to acquire, merge, or attract investment, this panel will provide the knowledge and inspiration needed to navigate the complex M&A landscape confidently.
Kirsty McGuire, Partner, H Partners (Moderator)
Marilyn Adler Founder and Managing Partner, Mizzen Capital
Dana Getschow, Vice President, Mid-Cap Investment Banking, Wells Fargo
Anjali “Ann” Ramakumaran, Founder and CEO, Ampcus, Inc.
Mark Sirower, Principal | M&A Consultative Services, Deloitte
2:45pm Coffee Break
3:00pm Engineering Your Exit: Envisioning the Future of your Company While Building It
As entrepreneurs grow their businesses, it is critical to consider the future of the company. When the time comes, how will they separate from the business? What are the ultimate goals included in an exit strategy? Does the organization have a succession plan to prepare for change as the business transitions? Answering these questions is key to achieving positive outcomes for both founders and investors. Planning an exit strategy early in the development of the company can help maximize the return on investment and sweat equity. In this session, the panel will discuss how to incorporate an exit into the company’s overall business strategy and the value that a well thought out exit strategy can bring to both founders and capital allocators.
Eda Henries, Founder and Managing Principal, Henries & Co. (Moderator)
Dao Jensen, President, Compass UOL North America
John Majeski, CEO & Partner, Portola Valley Partners
Suzanne Morrison, Executive Vice President Head of Commercial Banking & Wealth Partnership, Wells Fargo
3:40pm: Closing Fireside Chat
Babba Rivera, Founder & CEO, Ceremonia
Pocket Sun, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, SoGal Ventures
4:15pm: Closing Remarks
Gwen K. Young, CEO, Women Business Collaborative
Followed by Closing Reception, sponsored by Stearns Bank
5:15pm: Closing Reception Concludes
